By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
It’s best not to express the soccer rivalry between Carmel and Guerin Catholic in terms of time just yet, because the rivalry has only been around a few years.
What about measuring it in terms of intensity? Now we’re talking.
This brief-but-intense rivalry will be renewed between the two schools’ girls teams Saturday, as the No. 3 Greyhounds and No. 4 Golden Eagles won semi-final games at Class 3A Sectional 10 Thursday. Carmel played a marvelous offensive game to upend No. 2 Brebeuf Jesuit 3-0, while Guerin Catholic got past a determined Westfield squad, also by a 3-0 score.
There was no score between the ‘Hounds and the Braves at halftime, and a scoreless game at full time seemed a possibility. Brebeuf had only given up two goals all season prior to Thursday. Carmel had allowed eight goals, which isn’t bad considering the schedule the Greyhounds play.
But everything changed just two minutes into the second half. Carmel’s Jessica Dilger played the ball to Ashley Witucki, who got inside the box and tried to touch it in. The Braves’ goalkeeper Reni Osuntokum deflected it away, but Kelsie James was there to corral the ball and kick it into the net.
It was the beginning of a great game for Witucki, as she would connect on two goals of her own. In the 56th minute, she got another ball past the Brebeuf defense and rolled it into the net. Then with less than a minute to go, Witucki got her second goal, a 10-yard kick. Katie Soderstrom assisted both scores.
“I think the team played really well,” said Carmel coach Frank Dixon. “I think we kind of lost our way in the second part of the first half, we got a little disorganized. And we got it back. They’re just a really good attacking team and you’ve got to be just on top of it on defense. We took advantage of them pushing, all three goals were probably really counter-attack goals.”
The Braves actually outshot the Greyhounds 19-15 and had nine shots on goal to Carmel’s eight. ‘Hounds goalkeeper Emily Melchi had a solid game, saving all nine of Brebeuf’s attempts. The ‘Hounds are now 15-1-2 for the season.
The Golden Eagles scored their first goal in the 11th minute of the second semi-final. Quincy McMahon played the ball to Anna Heck, who was waiting right at the goal line to kick it in. Elle Vuotto scored for Guerin a few minutes later, punching a 10-yard ball into the net.
McMahon got the Golden Eagles’ third goal, kicking it in from about 10 yards with 28:19 left in the game. Guerin Catholic had several other shots on goal, but Westfield goalkeeper Libby Rismiller made some good saves.
“This is the toughest sectional in the entire state, and I don’t care if teams came in with a ranking or not,” said GC coach Jonathan McClure. “It’s a brutal sectional. This is a really deep area, filled with talent and anybody’s capable on any given night.”
Westfield finished its season 5-10-2, while the Golden Eagles are now 12-1-1.
Westfield’s Kaitlyn Hewitt (left) gets control of the ball with Guerin Catholic’s Quincy McMahon defending during the Shamrocks-Golden Eagles girls soccer sectional game Thursday at the Guerin Catholic field. (Richie Hall)